Whomever came up with the idea to put cold ice cream over warm pie was one smart cookie. So its only fitting that I pay homage this culinary pairing with boozy, bite-sized, versions of the real deal. These super cute jello shots in tiny pie crusts are made with spiced apple juice, vodka, and topped with mini scoops of jiggly vanilla ice cream. This recipe would also work with whiskey or some of that homemade apple pie moonshine. These jello shots were served at a Memorial Day rooftop BBQ but, as American as Apple Pie, they would also make a festive 4th of July summer treat.

Its Memorial Day weekend! This weekend marks the beginning of summer festivities here in New York. The beaches are opening and the backyard grills are firing up. Impress your friends at this weekend’s BBQ with a fruity, summery jello mold. This recipe calls for pomegranate juice, fresh berries, and a little ginger ale for bubbles. Vodka could be added for an adult version. This and many other recipes to get you ready for summer fun are in my book Hello Jell-O!. Order your copy today and have a fun holiday weekend!

Contrary to popular belief, German chocolate cake did not originate in Germany, but was named for the American baking chocolate inventor Sam German. That, however, did not stop me from making these German Chocolate Cake pudding shots for a recent German themed birthday party at a German beer hall. Layered with chocolate pudding infused with cake flavor vodka and butterscotch pudding infused with rum and topped with shredded coconut, these pudding shots were erstaunlich lecker!

Mardi Gras starts this Tuesday! So before you go giving up anything for Lent, why not partake in some indulgent jello shots. Modeled after the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake, these tiny, crown-shaped treats are made with sweetened condensed milk, cake flavored vodka and a hint of lemon. Have a happy Fat Tuesday!

This food appreciation holiday sneaks up on me every year…. and yes, this is a real thing. A week that apparently also celebrates pizza and frankfurters with sauerkraut. And, as much as I love pizza, I won’t subject you to mozzarella and tomato aspic topped with mushrooms and onions… or worse, sauerkraut suspended in lemon jello, which is also a real thing. Instead, raise a glass with some jello from my book Hello Jell-O!; Raspberry Cosmo Jello with cranberry juice, triple sec, and vodka.

Valentine’s Day is next Friday and its the kickoff to President’s Day weekend. What better way to celebrate your someone special or your favorite founding father than with some super cute jello shots! Pistachio pudding and a generous dose of vodka comprise the stem of the cherry shaped jello shot which is topped off with a red maraschino cherry. The resulting flavor is sweet and creamy, with a little boozy boost.

Its been one year since my good friends Janejai & Conor had thier baby and to celebrate the occasion, this fizzy cocktail jello was served up (to the adults) at a parkside party. This recipe consists of lemonade with generous amounts of vodka and champagne. Blueberries are suspended throughout. Another version, sans the booze, was made for the kids of course so no one was left out. Happy Birthday Baby P!

It’s summer! The arrival of the warm weather coincided perfectly with the first official day of summer and that means Fourth of July celebrations are right around the corner. For this year’s rooftop BBQ and fireworks display I made festive Star Spangled jello shooters. Vodka or rum liven up mini jello stars layered with blueberry, vanilla ice cream, and fun sprinkles! Have a happy 4th!

Nothing says loving like some jiggly jello. Impress your date this Valentine’s day with this tasty, boozy treat. Alternating layers of white chocolate and strawberry spiked with whipped cream flavored vodka is sure to put your sweetie in the mood. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

This year for my Thanksgiving jello I wanted to do something retro. A take on the very vintage Tomato Aspic that your Grandmother may have brought to the Thanksgiving dinner table but with the added twist of booze. Its made with all the classic Bloody Mary components: tomato juice, vodka, beer, garlic, Worcestershire, and hot sauce, plus green olives suspended throughout. Initially I wanted make this recipe just for fun, but it turned out to be pretty good. I thought about adding some shrimp cocktail into the mix but figured I should just quit while I was ahead. If you’re not into this recipe try some of my other Thanksgiving favorites here and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Watermelon is the perfect compliment to summer and this sweet and tangy jello mold delivers on refreshing summer flavor. Reminiscent of the watermelon Italian ices you remember from the ice cream truck or the pool snack bar as a kid but with an adult twist. It is made with fresh watermelon and tart lime juice with a little splash of vodka for an extra kick. I wrote this recipe especially for the Cooking Channel where you can find the recipe complete with process photos.

After an especially mild New York winter an early summer is starting to set in (hopefully I am not cursing myself into a May snow storm by saying this). For the summer I want to create a series of fancy cocktail inspired jello molds. This recipe, adapted from a cocktail recipe inspired by a dessert recipe, is a good transition with its summery peaches and wintery cinnamon. Filled with plenty of vodka, it is sweetened with honey, peach nectar, and a splash of vanilla soy milk. It was served last weekend for my friend Amanda‘s birthday. Happy Birthday Amanda!

I rang in the new year over the weekend with a little something boozy from the book. This very rich and creamy Mudslide jello, fashioned after the cocktail, is made with generous amounts of coffee and Irish cream liqueurs, heavy cream, and a touch of vodka. A little cocoa powder tops it off (whipped cream and/or chocolate syrup would also be good). Have a happy New Year everyone!

I was very excited a few weeks ago when Etsy invited me to participate in their How-Tuesday video series to demonstrate my jello making skills. For the video made a Raspberry Cosmo jello mold which I served at my friend Claire‘s annual birthday brunch. The mold is made with cranberry juice, triple sec, vodka, and lime juice with raspberries suspend throughout. This will be one of the jello molds included in my new book but you can click here to read the full article on the Etsy Blog and learn how to make your own. Thank you Etsy and Happy Birthday Claire!

Its that time of year again, Halloween! Its one of my favorite holidays and also the birthday of my friend Art. For this year’s annual Halloween/Birthday bash I wanted to make something extra creepy. I found this human heart shaped mold on eBay and filled it with black cherry gelatin, sweetened condensed milk, and vodka. A little melted down strawberry jelly for blood sauce adds the finishing touch. Happy Halloween everyone!

My friends Art and Marty recently returned from gallivanting around Europe, Berlin and Amsterdam mostly, and brought me some Euro-gelatin from both destinations. The German Götter Speisegelatin came in three flavors Himbeer (raspberry), Zitronen (lemon), and Waldmeister, which I assumed was lime by its green color but is actually Woodruff and had an herbal flavor. Combined with a little Vodka I used these gelatins to create rainbow jello shots for a summer rooftop party.

Inspired by the Stained Glass Jello, I decided to get a little experimental with this year’s 4th of July jello. For these red, white, and blue mini molds I heated up chunks of stained glass jello, pre-made in a pan, directly in the molds themselves over the gas stove. It only took a few seconds for the jello to melt down enough to form to the mold and for the colors to run into this beautiful marbled pattern. For added patriotic enthusiasm, the strawberry and blueberry gelatin is made with a little vodka, all suspended in sweet and creamy condensed milk. Happy 4th of July!

With the passing of the Labor Day weekend and summer drawing to an end, I made these mini watermelons to commemorate the occasion. Made with lime rinds, strawberries, and vodka with little black sesame seeds, these make fun little “jello shots”. I have seen versions of this all over the web, most recently and notably on another jello blog called My Jello Americans. This is just one of an amazing array of tiny “jello shots” from the creators of that blog made with their own infused liquors in fun, creative shapes. The recipe for this can be found in a preview of my new book here.

Triple berry salad is a classic Jello recipe, but mine has a few twists. This sparkling treat is made with cranberry gelatin and tart pomegranate juice, along with vodka and club soda and is filled with blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. It was served at a birthday BBQ to a crowd who had never tired my jello before and was devoured by a frenzied swarm of eager party goers. (I’ve never seen jello sell-out quite like this.) Thank you guys for your jello enthusiasm!